When Steve Chard pushed off from Ontario back in mid-July, he set out with a paddle, a plan, and an appetite for adventure that most people only dream about.
One man, one kayak, and a 6,000-mile mission known as the Great Loop.
After more than four months on the water, he glided into Mobile with sun-tested gear, a long list of stories, and a smile that said he still loves every minute of this challenge.
His arrival brought a little extra spark to the waterfront, the kind that comes from seeing someone commit fully to a dream and carry it through rivers, lakes, channels, and coastlines all the way across a continent.
An Expedition Built on Grit and Generosity
Chard’s bright red 18-foot sea kayak has become both his vessel and his home.
It holds a tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear, a couple of gallons of water, and nearly a week’s supply of food tucked into narrow compartments.
When he paused in Mobile to sort through his bags, he laughed at the compact cache. It looked small, but it carried him through miles of open water.
He’s paddling the entire Great Loop alone, a journey that circles a huge portion of North America through a maze of interconnected waterways.
Along the way, he’s depended on the goodwill of strangers for safe places to pitch his tent or roll out his mat. Backyards. Garages. Basements. Yacht clubs. Anywhere someone has a patch of ground and a generous spirit.
Only about 40% of his nights have been spent in a tent. The rest came from the kindness that keeps his journey moving forward.
A Lifetime on the Water
Chard’s connection to kayaking began when he was 11 or 12, long before he imagined taking on anything of this scale.
As a young sea scout, he learned early lessons about balance, patience, and the calm rhythm of paddling.
He joined the navy later on, which put his time on the water on pause. But in his mid-50s, when friends started kayaking again, the spark returned quickly.
Now approaching 70, he says this challenge arrived at the perfect moment in his life. He feels physically ready, mentally strong, and deeply motivated.
That doesn’t mean every day is smooth. On Lake Michigan, high winds capsized him once, a reminder that nature writes its own rules.
Sometimes you push ahead, sometimes you wait out the weather. Even with all his preparation, surprises remain part of the journey.
Paddling for a Cause That Matters
Chard isn’t undertaking this odyssey simply to prove he can do it.
He’s raising money for the Andrew Simpson Foundation, a British charity named for Olympic sailor Andrew Simpson, who died during training for the America’s Cup in 2013.
The foundation began as a way to introduce young people to sailing, and over the years it has expanded to include all kinds of water sports.
Chard speaks about the mission with absolute admiration. Helping kids discover confidence and new experiences keeps him paddling on early mornings, windy afternoons, and long stretches of solitary water.
Support has come from all over. Americans. Canadians. People who hear his story and want to help children discover activities that might have remained out of reach.
The Journey Continues Down the Gulf Coast
After resting up in Mobile, Chard will point his bow south toward Dauphin Island, then onward to Florida as he traces the Gulf Coast.
His route will eventually carry him around the curve of the continent and back toward his starting point. He plans to finish what he started. His loop isn’t complete until the last mile meets the first.
For anyone who wants to follow in real time or send him messages of encouragement, his tracking page stays updated along the way.
He’s paddling forward with gratitude, purpose, and a sense of adventure that’s impossible to miss. His goal is simple: keep going until the circle closes.
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